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Responding to Faculty Feedback

Responding to Faculty Feedback

Faculty feedback is meant to be proactive and timely -- guiding you to identify behaviors and/or performance areas in a class where you are doing well or where you could improve in order to successfully complete the course. Regardless of your previous experiences in school, the faculty who utilize FLAGS feedback want you to succeed and they believe you can as long as you follow recommendations.

What follows below will give you some tips on what you can do, as well as what to expect when you respond to your feedback. If you only briefly glanced at your feedback, take a moment to look it over more closely.

Two students collaborating and using a whiteboard

General Response Suggestions

Be open to this feedback from faculty because they are using FLAGS in the hopes of supporting your success.
Feedback from multiple classes does not mean you should change your academic plan or career goals. You may have picked a combination of classes that don't go well together due to difficulty or competing assignment deadlines. Faculty and staff may know it takes additional help for students to manage such course combinations.
Understand that you are likely to hear from more than one person about your feedback because we want to be sure you get support.

When you do meet to discuss the feedback, make sure you are being honest with the person and with yourself.

Consulting with a Person

Your recommended action might be to consult with an instructor, academic advisor, or teaching assistant. The most common action is usually to consult with your instructor.
Don't delay in following through on the recommendations. Follow up within 1-2 days with the people or offices identified in your recommended actions.
If the recommendation is to Consult with instructor, check in with them during their posted office hours unless they have identified another way to connect in the course syllabus. Don't be shy--your faculty member has already invited you to come see them by using FLAGS. Take them up on their offer.
If the recommendation is to Consult with Academic Advisor, drop-in advising hours might not be the best choice. Many advisors use drop-in times for quick questions or follow-up. Use drop-in hours for a quick check-in and to schedule a longer appointment.
If the recommendation is to consider getting engaged on campus by exploring honors, undergraduate research, majoring or minoring in the discipline, consult with your instructor during their office hours to learn more about why they think you should do this. In many cases, they may connect you with other faculty or staff on campus who can help you pursue your academic and career goals. Don't pass up an opportunity to engage with your instructors outside of class!

Contacting a Tutor, Mentor, or Student Support Office

You can also contact a tutoring, mentoring, or other student support office for help.
Be prepared with questions to ask during this meeting. Remember that you are the captain of this ship -- the tutor/mentor/peer is your first mate.